Thread winder



E. COLOMBU mama wmnaa Oct. 3, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 31, 1947 w i a IN V EN TOR. EUGENE C01. OMBU ZZZ/,4

A TTORA/EY E. COLOMBU THREAD mm 3' Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 31, 1947 IN VEN TOR. EUGNCOLOMBU ATTORNEY E. COLOMBU THREAD WINDER Oct. 3, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 31, 1947 INVENTOR fuss/v5 C04 OM50 A rramvsv reams b3, 1950 THREAD wnvnna Eugene Colombu.

Paris, France, aalgnor to Comptoir des Textiles Artilieiels, Paris, fiance, a corporation of the Republic of France Application July 31, I947, Serial No. 764,943 In France October 26, 1944 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires October 26, 1984 9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to high speed yarn winders. More particularly; it, relates to a yarn winder for winding rayon or other artificial yarn as it leaves the spinning frame and in an operation continuous therewith.

In one process of spinning, the rayon yarns are arrangedin parallel relationship in the form of a sheet which is fed in succession through appropriate treating baths and then dried. Each of the yarns after drying has to be twisted. It is inadvisable to combine the twisting operation with the spinning machine in order to twist the yarns directly as they pass from the spinning machine. Such a combination would require very high spindle speeds, especially in the case of spinning machines operating at high speeds, for example, 200 meters or more per minute. For this reason, the usual practice is to spool the dried rayon and thereafter subject it to twisting on special machines.

The main problem in the spooling of the yarn is not the winding operation, which is easily operated at any selected speed, but the yarn changeover without loss of time and particularly also the severing of the free loop formed by the change-over inasmuch as the feeding must not be interrupted.

Winding devices for rayon provided with two spools per winding position are well known. In such winding apparatus, the two spools are mounted on a rotating disc which starts to rotate at the moment of the yarn change-over from one spool to the other. However, such rotation is not sufiiciently fast, and additionally such machines are complicated.

The winder of this invention is equally applicable for use with threads, yarns, etc. For convenience, the term thread is used, it being understood that such term includes not only threads but yarns, etc.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved thread winder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a thread winder capable of winding at high speeds.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a thread winder in which the change-over from a filled spool to an empty spool is obtained instantaneously and without interrupting the feeding operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide. a thread winder wherein the free loop formed during the thread change-over of the spools is revered without diiiiculty.

A still further object of this invention is to feed the thread to the spools at substantially uniform tension.

Other and additional objects will become more apparent hereinafter.

The objects of this invention are accomplished, in general, by guiding a thread with a reciprocating traverse guide to one of two rotating spools removably disposed on co-axial studs, each of which studs is separately carried on a pivotally mounted support, and, after a predetermined interval, as when the required amount of thread has been wound on said spool, shifting the traverse guide so that the thread will be wound on the other spool. A cutter, preferably moving perpendicular to the axes of the spools, is provided to cut the free loop of thread resulting from shifting the traverse guide from one spool to the other. After the loop has been cut, the support carrying the filled spool is moved about its pivot into-a position .where the spool is no longer operated and can be easily removed and replaced by an empty spool. After replacement, the support is moved on its pivot in order to position the empty spool into winding position ready to receive the thread when the other spool is filled and the traverse guide is shifted to guide the threads thereon.

The spools on the co-axial studs and in winding position are face-driven by means of continuously rotating rolls. Means are provided to maintain the drive rolls in contact with the spools during the winding operation. Means are also provided to prevent contact between the driving roll and the spool when the latter is out of wind ing position. Means are also provided to feed the thread to the respective spools at substantially uniform tension irrespective of the movement of the traverse guide.

The invention is applicable to a thread winder having a plurality of identical thread-winding positions.

The present invention will be more clearly un derstood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of two winding positions of a winder embodying the principles of this invention, one of the positions having omitted therefrom the friction-drive rolls;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a thread-winding position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail of the traverse guide-operating mechanism;

Figure 4 is an elevation of an auxiliary device insuring constant tension of the thread; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail showing a modified i'orm oi cutter.

Referring now to the drawings. wherein like reference numerals and characters designate like parts, the reference characters B, B designate spools freely mounted On studs '41, a respectively.

The studs a, a are rigidly secured in supports 2 carried in the frame I. The supports s, S are rotatably mounted on the shaft 2, and each is capable of independent movement about such shaft. Each of the supports S, S is provided with a lug 58 which carries a locking member V provided at the top thereof with a manual grip portion or handle 5. The locking membe'n vis adapted to cooperate with notches 3- and [in an arcuate' plate 8 appropriately securedgon the frame. The curvature of the arcuate' member 6 is on a radius from the shaft 2. It is thus apparent that the supports S, S can be independenter the'notch in alignment therewithi The frame I is traversed at the lower part thereof by a shaft 8 on which are pivotally mounted two cradles b, b, each susceptible of freely oscillating on the shaft 8 independently of'the other. Each cradle b, b is provided. at the upper part thereof with bearings 5| respectively. A roll R is secured on a shaft 1' which is rotatably mounted in the bearings 5| of the cradle 12, and a roll R is secured on a shaft 1' which, in turn, is rotatably mounted in the bearings 5|" of the cradle b. Each cradleb, b is provided with a counterweight P, P respectively, whereby the cradles are continuously urged for movement about the shaft 8 so that the rolls R, R, which constitute friction-drive means, are in contact with the respective spools B, B when such spools are in winding position. A belt ll passes over a pulley l2 secured on shaft 8 and a pulley l8 secured on shaft r carrying the rollR. Similarly, a belt ll' cooperates with a pulley l2 on shaft 8 and a pulley l3 on shaft 1" of roll R'. The rod la constitutes a part of the frame I.

The shaft 8 is rotated in any convenient manner by means not shown, with the result that the rotation of shaft 8 is transmitted to the frictiondrive rolls R, R irrespective of the angular positions of the cradles carrying the same.

Stops I5 limit the movement of each of the cradles b, b toward the front of the machine and in the direction they are being urged by the counterweights P, P when the spools B, B are moved forwardly into the idle position as above described and shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 2. Each stop I5 is adjustably mounted on a rod 52 carried in the frame of the machine, and a set sgrew 54 secures it in adjusted postlon on the rod 5 The threads are fed from the treating machine in a horizontal sheet, and each thread is caused to pass around a fixed guide roll l1 located in the center axis of the position, whereby the thread is given a movement in a vertical plane. The thread, after passing over guide roll l1, passes through a traverse guide i8 secured on a traverse bar I 9 which is mounted for reciprocating movement between grooved rollers 28 appropriately mounted on studs carried by a bracket 56 secured in the machine. The traverse bar I9 transmits two movements to the thread guide l8, i. e. a permanent reciprocating movement in front of the spool on which the thread is being wound and an intermittent movement to shift it in fr n 4 of the other spool when the first spool is filled, to effect a change-over. These. motions are obtained by a cam mechanism contained in a housing, generally designated by the reference numeral 2|, and they are transmitted to the traverse bar l8 through the medium of a connecting rod 22 pivotally mounted at 23. The connecting rod 22' is provided at the top thereof with an elongated slot 28' adapted to cooperate with a pin 24 on the traverse bar 18.

The nature and principle of the cam device contained in the housing 2| are shown in Figure 3. Referring now to Figure 3, the connecting rod 22 at its lower end is provided with a cam follower 25 adapted to cooperate with a cam 26, in the form of a helical groove, in a drum 21. The drum 21 is rotated by means of a shaft 28 on which it is mounted. For reasons which will become apparent, the drum 21 is mounted for sliding movement on the shaft 28. In the form shown, the shaft 28 is provided with a slot 28' in which a feather (not shown) of the drum 21 is slidably disposed. The drum 21 is also provided with a circular groove 29, the plane of which is normal to the shaft 28. The groove 29 receives a fork 3| secured and carried by a sleeve 32 slidably mounted on a rod 33 The sleeve 32 is provided with a cam roller 35 cooperating with a cam groove 36' in a drum 31 secured on a shaft 38. The shaft 28 is driven by a continuous rotating motion, and the shaft 38 is also driven by a continuous rotating motion which, however, is much slower than that of the shaft 28. The shape of the cam 26 is such as to continuously move the connecting rod 22 in the directions necessary to reciprocate the traverse bar so that the traverse guide will continuously reciprocate across the face of the spool being wound. The shape of the cam groove 38 is such that the sleeve 32 is periodically displaced from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in broken lines on Figure 3, and conversely. The shape of the cam groove 36 is also such as to maintain the cam roller 35 in either of the positions shown in Figure 3 for the required intervals.

The shafts 28 and 38 can be driven in any suitable manner. Each can be separately driven, or they can be driven from shaft 8 by an appropriate chain of gears (not shown).

In the operation of the apparatus just described, a thread passing over guide roll l1 traverses the traverse guide l8 and is wound up on the spools ,B' (in all positions) which are frictionally driven by the drive rolls R. While the winding operation is taking place; the traverse guides l8 are reciprocated in front of the spools B so as to properly distribute the thread over the whole length of the spools. This reciprocating movement is obtained by the action of the cam roller 25 in the cam 26 through the medium of the connecting rod 22. It is to be noted that the driving of the spools B is obtained by direct frictional contact of the rolls R with the thread windings whereby the winding operation is effected at a constant linear speed irrespective of the diameter of the spool in formation.

When the spools B are filled, the traverse guides l8 are rapidly shifted in the front of the adjacent spools B. This is obtained by shifting the drum 21 toward the right in Figure 3 due to the shifting of the sleeve 32 by the cam 36. As a. consequence, the connecting rod 22 shifts the traverse bar l9 toward the left. Now the winding operation is performed on spools B exactly in the same manner as previously described in connection with the spools B.

When the thread has passed from the spools B onto B, a loop between the two spools is formed. A cutter, hereinafter more fully described, is actuated so that it passes between the spools B and B and severs the loop without interrupting the winding operation which is being effected. Then the filled spool isreplaced by an empty spool, as will now be explained. f The handle of the locking member V is gripped by an operator and elevated soas to be free of the notch 8 whereby the support S is released from locked position. After the lock has been released, the supports S are moved toward the front of the machine about the shaft 2 on which they are pivoted until the locking member V engages the notch 4. During the movement of the support S toward the front of the machine, the cradle b will also be urged toward the front of the machine by virtue of the counterweight P. However, such movement is restrained when the cradle b engages the stop ii. The spools B are then removed from the stud a -by a sliding (sidewise) movement, and

an empty spool positioned thereon. The empty spools on the studs are then positioned so that the stud thereof is in alignment with the stud on which the spool being wound is disposed. This is eflected by'releasing the locking member V from the notch 4 and moving the support S about its pivot toward the back of the machine until the locking member V engages the notch 8. In this position, the drive roll R' will be in position to frictionally drive the empty spool B. When the spool Bis filled, the traverse bar l8 will be shifted so that the thread will be fed onto the empty spool B and the previously described operations for severing the loop and the removal of the filled spool from operative position into inoperative position where it is A bar and traverse guides.

replaced with an empty spool are repeated.

.In the apparatus just described, the thread, due to its varying inclination from the guide roll I! to the traverse guide I8, is subjected to variations in tension during the winding operation; This may produce spools in which the rotatable guide roll II and the traverse guide l8 there is provided two rolls 4| and 42. The roll 4| is mounted on an arm 6|l-carried by the traverse bar I! and so disposed that the thread passes from said roll 4| in a substantially vertical line to the traverse guide Ill. The second roll 42 is located so that it undergoes displacements parallel to those of the roll 4| but of approximately half their amplitude. It is to be noted that rolls I1, 42 and 4| are arranged so that the thread passes from the guide roll I! to the guide roll 42 in a substantially horizontal path and from the guide roll 42 to the guide roll 4| also in a substantially horizontal path. The roll 42 is freely mounted on a connecting rod 43, one end of "which 'is pivoted on a fixed stud 44, and the other end is provided with a pin 45 which cooperates with a slot 82 in a-lug 64 on the traverse bar l9. Due to this construction, when the traverse bar l9 and the thread guides move over a path, the distance of which 1; c, the roll 4| also shifts over a path. the distance of which is c, and the roll 42 shifts over a path, the distance of which is This device permits obtaining a yarn tension in the course of the winding operation which is independent of the movement ofthe trayerse guiqe, In fact, in ordertoobtain'tliisiesiilt'tiit ieiigtli of the thread between the fixed roll l1 and the traverse guide I! should not be varied irrespective of the position of the traverse guide I8. Now rei'erring to Figure 4, wherein two positions of the traverse guide l8 are shown, in one position the length of thread (1) =rs+st+tu, and in the second position the length of the thread The distance between the roll 4| and the traverse guide is fixed. Consequently, tu=t'u', and, as on the other hand Thus, i=1, and the tension of the thread is entirely independent from the movements of the thread guide.

As previously mentioned, when the winding operation is transferred from one spool to the other, there is formed a free loop which is subsequently severed. The precise cutting mechanism for severing this loop is not important. Many constructions of severing means will become readily apparent to a, person skilled in the art. For illustrative purposes, two illustrative severing mechanisms are herein disclosed. 1

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 wherein the severing operation is eflected by a rotary knife, the reference numeral 18 designates a knife mounted on a rotary shaft 12. The shaft 12 is carried in one end 'of an arm 14, the other end of the arm 14 being mounted on the shaft 2. The shaft 12 is provided with a gear 18 which cooperates with a gear 88 driven by a gear 82 on shaft 8. It is thus apparent that upon rotation of the shaft 8, the cutter 10 will be rotated through the gears 82, and 18. In normal position, the cutter 1c is disposed in inoperative position, as shown in Figure 2. I In order to move the knife 10 into operating position between two adjacent spools, the shaft 2 is provided with a gear segment 84 which cooperates with a gear 86 mounted on a shaft 88 extending through the length of the machine. The shaft 88 is provided at one end thereof with means whereby it can be gripped and rotated, with the result that the arm 14 wi l be moved so that the knife Ill will be disposed in operative position between the two spools to sever the free loop of thread extending therebetween. The arm 14 is provided with means to limit the movement thereof in either direction. In the form shown, the arm 14 is provided with a stop member 80 which is adapted to engage the rod 52 and a stop member 92 adapted to engage the shaft 88.

Referring now to Figure 5, the reference numeral I00 designates a knife which is slidably on the machine. The rear end of the knife I is connected to one end of a connecting rod I,

the other end of which is secured to a disc A" V secured to a shaft ms rotatably mounted in bearings Ill appropriately located in the machine.

The shaft I" is provided with means (not shown) whereby it can be rotated by the operator. The

- disc I" is secured by a connecting rod H2 to an appropriate element I II on the frame whereby the shaft llil can be given a rotation of only 180. The connecting rods III, II! are so connected to the disc that when the shaft is a quarter turn (rotation of 45), the knife will pass between the two bobbins and in position to cut the loop. The cutting of the thread, i. e. the half turn given to the shaft of the discs, must be accomplished at a short interval after the changeover has been made in order to establish a suiliciently firm winding on the empty spool so that it is not deformed upon cutting. The support It! in which the knife Hill is slidable is adjustably mounted on the machine in any convenient manner so that the positioning of the knife between the spools can be eifected.

The thread winder of this invention is capable of being used at relatively high speeds, such as up to 400 meters per minute or even more, and the idle time is reduced to a minimum. The winding of the thread at a constant linear speed and the means for maintainin the thread tension at a value which is independent of the movement of the thread guide permit the production of substantially perfect and regular spooling.

Since it is obvious that various changes and modifications can be made in the above description without departing from th nature or spirit thereof, this invention is not restricted thereto except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A thread winder comprising a pair of coaxially spaced studs, each of which is adapted to receive a spool, a. separate independently pivotally mounted support for each stud whereby the spool on either stud can be disposed in and out of winding position, means to lock each support in and out of winding position, means to independently rotate each of said spools on its respective stud, a reciprocating traverse bar, a traverse guide carried by said traverse bar to guide the thread onto one of said spools, means to shift said traverse bar at a predetermined interval to dispose said traverse guide in position to guide the thread onto the other of said spools, means to guide the thread to said traverse guide comprising a first guide roll, a second guide roll carried by said traverse bar and located so that the thread leaving said second guide roll will-pass in a straight vertical line to said traverse guide, an intermediate guide roll located so that the thread passing from said first guide roll will pass'thereto in a substantially horizontal plane and pass therefrom in a substantially horizontal plane to said second guide roll, means to reciprocate and shift said intermediate guide roll in a direction parallel to but for a distance equal to one-half of the distance of the lateral movements of said second guide roll, and a cutter to cut the loop of thread formed between the two spools when the thread is shifted from one spool to the other.

2. A thread winder comprising a pair of coaxially spaced studs, each of which is adapted to receive a spool, a separate independently pivotally mounted support for each stud whereby the spool on either stud can be disposed in and out of winding position, means to lock each support in and out of winding position, means to independently rotate each of said spools on its respective stud, a reciprocating traverse bar, a traverse guide carried by said traverse bar to guide the thread onto one of said spools, means to shift said traverse bar at a predetermined interval to dispose said traverse guide in position to guide the thread onto the other of said spools, means to guide the thread to said traverse guide comprising a first guide roll, a second guide roll carried by said traverse bar and located so that the thread I leaving said second guide roll will pass in a straight vertical line to said traverse guide, an intermediate guide roll located so that the thread passing from said first guide roll will pass thereto in a substantially horizontal plane and pass therefrom in a substantially horizontal plane to said second guide roll, a connecting bar carrying said intermediate roll, said connecting bar being pivotally mounted at the top thereof, means to slidably connect the lower end of said connecting bar to said traverse bar whereby upon movement of said connecting bar by said traverse bar said intermediate roll will be moved in a substantially horizontal plane, and a cutter to cut the loop of thread formed between the two spools when the thread is shiftedfrom one spool to the other.

3. A winder for artificial yarn comprising a pair of co-axially spaced studs, each of which is adapted to receive a spool, a separate support for each stud, each of said supports being independently pivotally mounted to swing its spool into and out of winding position, means to lock each support in and out of a fixed winding position, a second pair of pivotally mounted supports, a separate continuously rotating roll carried by each of said second supports, yielding means to swing each of said second supports in a direction to bring the roll carried thereby into contact with and to maintain frictional driving engagement with the windings on the cooperating spool when said spool is in winding position, the axes of said rolls and spools when in winding position being located in substantially the same horizontal plane whereby the pressure is independent of the weight of the winding, a reciprocating traverse guide to guide the thread onto one of said spools, means to shift said traverse guide at a predetermined interval to guide the yarn onto the other of said spools, and a cutter to cut the loop of yarn formed between the two spools when theyarn is shifted from one spool to the other.

4. A winder for artificial yarn comprising a pair of co-axially spaced studs, each of which is adapted to receive a spool, a separate support for each stud, each of said supports being independently pivotally mounted to swing its spool into and out of winding position, means to lock each support in and out of a fixed winding position, a second pair of pivotally mounted supports, a separate continuously rotating roll carried by each of said second supports, yielding means to swing each of said second supports in a direction to bring the roll carried thereby into contact with and to maintain frictional driving engagement with the windings on the cooperating spool when said spool is in winding position, the axes of said rolls and spools when in winding position being located in substantially the same horizontal plane whereby the pressure is independent of the weight of the winding, stop means to maintain each of the friction drive rolls out of' contact with the spool driven thereby when said spool is disposed in out-of-winding position, a reciprocating travsition,

said spools on its respective stud when in winding position, a reciprocating traverse guide to erse guide to guide the thread onto one of said spools, means to shift said traverse guide at a predetermined interval to guide the yarn onto the other of said spools, and a cutter to cut the loop of yarn formed between the two spools when the yarn is shifted from one spool to the other.

5. A winder for artificial yarn comprising a pair of co-axially spaced studs, each of which is adapted to receive a spool, means to independently rotate each of said spools on its respective stud, a reciprocating traverse guide to guide the thread onto one of said spools, means to shift said traverse guide at a predetermined interval to guide the yarn onto the other of said spools, compensating means actuated by the traverse guide to maintain the tension of the yarn fed by the traverse guide substantially uniform regardless of the movements of said traverse guide, and a cutter to cut the loop of yarn formed between the two spools when the yarn is shifted from one spool to the other.

6. A winder for artificial yarn comprising a pair of co-axially spaced studs, each of which is adapted to receive a spool, a separate support for eachstud, each of said supports being inde"-.

pendently-pivotally mounted to swing its spool into and out of winding position, means to lock each support in and out of a fixed winding pomeans to independently rotate each of guide the thread onto one of said spools, means to shift said traverse guide at a predetermined interval to guide the yarn onto the other of said spools, compensating means actuated by the :2

traverse guide to maintain the tension of the yarn fed by the traverse guide substantially uniform regardless of the movement of said traverse guide,

and a cutter to cut the loop of yarn formed be- "tween the two spools when the yarn shifted from one spool to the other.

7. A winder for artificial yarn comprising a pair of co-axially spaced studs each of which is adapted to receive a spool, a separate continuously rotating roll adapted to frictionally engage the windings on each spool to wind the yarn at a constant linear speed, yielding means to continuously maintain each of said rotating rolls in frictional engagement with its respective spool during the winding operation to independently rotate each of said spools on its respective stud, the axes of said rolls and spools when in winding position being located in substantially the same horizontal plane whereby the pressure is independent of the weight of the winding, a reciprocating traverse guide to guide the yarn-onto one of said spools, means to shift said traverse guide at a predetermined interval to guide the yarn onto the other of said spools, compensating means actuated by the traverse guide to maintain the tension of the yarn fed to the traverse guide substantially uniform regardless of the movements of said traverse guide, anda cutter to cut the loop of yarn formed between the two spools when the yarn is shifted from one spool to the other.

8. A winder for artificial yarn comprising a pair of co-axially spaced studs, each of which is adapted to receive a spool, a separate support for each stud, each of said supports being independently pivotally mounted to shift its spool into separate continuously rotating roll carried by 76 each of said second supports, yielding means to swing each of said second supports in a direction to bring the roll carried thereby into contact with and to maintain frictional driving engagement with the windings on the cooperating spool when said spool is in winding position, the axes of said rolls and spools when in winding position being located in substantially the same horizontal plane whereby the pressure is independent of the weight of the winding, a reciprocating traverse guide to guide the yarn onto one of said spools, means to shift said traverse guide at a predetermined interval to guide the yarn onto the other of said spools, compensating means actuated by the traverse guide to maintain the tension of the yarn fed to the traverse guide substantially uniform regardless of the movements of said traverse guide, and a cutter to cut the loop yarn formed between the two spools when the yarn is shifted from one spool to the other.

9. A winder for artificial yarn comprising a pair of co-axially spaced studs, each of which is adapted to receive a spool, a separate support for each stud, each of said supports being independently pivotally mounted to swing into and out of winding position, means to lock each support in and out of a fixed position, a second pair of pivotally mounted supports, a separate continuously rotating roll carried by each of said second supports, yielding means to Swing each of said second supports in a direction to bring the roll" carried thereby into contact with and to maintain frictional driving engagement with the windings in the cooperating spool when said spool is in winding position, the axes of said rolls and spools when in winding position being located in substantially the same horizontal plane whereby the pressure is independent of the weight of the winding, stop means to maintain each of the friction drive rolls out of contact with the spool driven thereby when said spool is disposed in out-of-winding position, a reciprocating traverse guide to guide the yarn onto one of said spools, means to shift said traverse guide at a predetermined interval to guide the yarn onto the other of said spools, compensating means actuated by the traverse guide to maintain the tension of the yarn fed tothe traverse guide substantially uniform regardless of the movements of said traverse guide, and a cutter to cut the loop of yarn formed between the two spools when the yarn is shifted from one spool to the other.

EUGENE COLOMBU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the 

